Boa Steakhouse on Sunset
Best Shellfish Tower, August 2015
Any shellfish tower worth its sea salt will give you perfectly plump prawns and just-shucked oysters, but the one at BOA Steakhouse earns your sand dollars by delivering a titanic array of options. You’ll feel like a greedy shark as the two-tiered behemoth arrives, overflowing with chilled Maine lobster, sprawling king crab legs, and ten other kinds of shellfish. Anyone can put raw crab claws
on crushed ice, but BOA goes beyond the buoy with saffron-marinated poached shrimp, pickled scallops, and a Peruvian-style sea bass ceviche.
We appreciate a nice patio as much as the next Angeleno, and the one at Boa’s new flagship ranks among the area’s loveliest. It is as sleek and sexy as the West Hollywood carnivores who flock to it, and the fire pits that dot the expanse set the mood. We can’t, however, excuse cocktails with more sugar than booze, a wilted tableside Caesar (we like the effort, but use fresh romaine, please), or that teensy John Dory meunière for $42. The steaks are as grand as, well, that darn patio. Their price tag is only slightly lower than at nearby rivals, where you’ll find more creative sides and drinks that won’t rot your teeth—just, you know, your liver.
